(Audio)
If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;
if you trust in God, you too shall live;
he has set before you fire and water
to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Commandments don't typically good press. Christianity, in turn, represented as a religion of rules, seems archaic and unhelpful. And yet there is life hidden in the laws of God. There is immense wisdom in following his ways. Yet it is possible to look at the laws and miss this wisdom.
Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
If the laws only speak of an external transformation and go no further, if, that is to say, they are merely arbitrary rules, then they cannot contain great wisdom. The cannot address the deep issues of the human predicament. If that were the case we would then conform our external behaviors to the laws. Yet compliance and conformity could do nothing about the longings of our hearts.
We are tempted to regard only the external significance of the laws. 'Do this, not that' is an easy concept to understand. Ultimately it is not that demanding, something we can achieve, something in which we can take pride. But to follow the logic of the laws to their inner significance requires that our hearts be changed.
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
To experience this inner change requires the grace of God. Any other approach only yields frustration and failure.
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
We are so tempted to want things to be in our control. That is why have such a hard time letting our 'Yes' mean 'Yes' and our 'No' mean 'No.' We want to be able to guarantee that which we can only receive in humility.
Jesus tells us that he has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We need him to teach us the wisdom that the law is a constant invitation to inner transformation. The invitation is given by the Spirit. The same Spirit is the one who delights to work that transformation in us.
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him,
this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment